27. KATIE
Chapter twenty-seven
KATIE
M ax’s entire posture changes. He takes a step in front of me, his shoulders rolling back as he crosses his arms in front of his chest–or tries to, but he’s still holding the pastry boxes.
The friendly, almost flirty, demeanor melts away and I see that same focused fighter from the hospital.
It’s hot as hell.
But it also tells me that this pint-sized blond is a problem and possibly a danger. Which is good intel.
This whole afternoon has been good for intel– the streets and neighborhoods are filling out the map in my mind. The true dangers of an Alpha. And Max’s own fighting capabilities.
I kind of hate thinking about him as a piece of intel, especially as he steps forward to protect me from this threat.
“Oh don’t be so dramatic, Maxy baby. It doesn’t suit you.” She tosses her hair. She pushes down the oversized sunglasses to look at me.
“Who’s your friend? Did Callum and Loren finally lick all their petty little scrapes clean, or did you decide you couldn’t go any longer without getting your dick wet?”
Max growls, and the hairs on my arms rise.
Who is this bitch? Genevieve– someone has mentioned her before. She must be an ex. A very bitter ex.
I might not want to stick around with Pack Murphy forever, but Max has been nothing but gentlemanly and polite– and a little flirty. Even protective. She does not need to be speaking to him like this. To my Alpha.
I swallow that word. Alpha . My Omega biology loves it, wants to roll around in it. But, I am not going to give in so easily.
“She’s none of your business.” Max turns, keeping me hidden with his broad shoulders.
“Of course she isn’t. I’ve moved on to bigger and better than Pack Murphy.” She laughs, a simpering scratchy kind of laugh that makes me want to cover my ears. But she sniffs the air, and her laugh dies in her throat.
What is it about smells in this world? Jesus.
“An Omega?” She takes a step toward us, pushing up her sunglasses as if to see better, but Max growls again, this time in clear warning.
“Is Pack Murphy courting an Omega? Or are you just volunteering for the Heat Center again?”
Her blue eyes are shrewd. She takes in everything, from my oversized sweater to my helmet hair.
“I don’t know you,” she says, her voice a sing-song.
“Thank God for small mercies,” I snap.
She arches one over-plucked eyebrow. “An Omega with spirit. No wonder you like fucking her.”
Oh this bitch. I am ready to break her perfect little nose.
“Not worth it,” Max whispers. Like he could hear my thoughts. More likely he could read my intentions in my raised fist.
“Watch out for Max; he likes to bite.” She calls as Max herds me back to the motorcycle.
He stows the cakes inside the seat, then grabs our helmets. Instead of handing mine over, he slides the helmet on, snapping the strap in place.
“I can do this myself,” I say, leaning back out of his reach.
“Yes. But you are going to let me do this right now so that I don’t jog back there and rip that bitch’s throat out.”
He takes a deep breath. I didn’t realize how on the edge he was. But the closer he is to me, the sharper his scent. More tart, less warm and smokey. One of his hands trembles as he draws it away from my helmet.
“Are… are you okay?” I ask. I don't like seeing him upset. And I especially don’t like the idea that this poison pixie has the power to affect him so much.
“Fine,” he grunts.
I cross my arms. If he thinks he’s going to single syllable his way out of this, he’s got another thing coming.
He sighs, pulling on his own sleek helmet.
“Her name is Genevieve and she was… she was close with Loren and Callum a while back.” He shakes his head. “Look, I don’t know how much they want to share about it right now. But Loren and Callum became a pack after they served together in the military. They wanted an Omega, but they're rare– you know that much, right?”
I nod.
“So, they were both open to a Beta coming in and, not replacing an Omega, but helping complete our Pack. Add some balance to all our Alpha energy. Which was fine for me too, when I joined. They met Genevieve through socialite friends, not my scene. She wasn’t my cup of tea, but Lor and Cal fell hard . And she… well, she’s poison. Plain and simple. Their relationship was fast and intense, and let’s just say it got nasty at the end. She went out of her way to hurt them every way she could.”
“But not you?” I ask.
He laughs coldly. “Oh she hurt me too, but we weren’t intimate. Lor and Cal– fuck this isn’t my story to tell. But, they loved her and she betrayed that love. And Callum especially has had a hard time recovering from it.”
I nod. That’s enough intel for now. I don’t need to pry for more. Yet.
Max slides onto the bike, offering me his hand. I take it as I climb up behind him. I wrap my arms around his waist. Instead of sitting back like I have been since the hospital, I press close.
I need to comfort him, to feel the tension that’s threaded through his shoulders relax. Maybe it’s my Omega biology kicking in, or the fact that I am a decent human being, but I want to do something to help Max feel better.
It’s been a fucking weird afternoon.
I close my eyes and let my cheek rest against Max’s back. His body rumbles, and I assume that’s a good thing. We can’t hear each other as we fly down the streets. I’ve already mapped out the route in my mind, so I watch the landmarks I’ve memorized.
I like Max. I like the warmth of him, and the way he teases me and pushes me. I definitely like the way he fights.
And what the fuck is wrong with Alphas here anyway? Barking submission and charging like drunk frat boys. No wonder they keep Omegas locked up. Jesus.
I need to get my sisters back to Earth. Back to a world without all of that aggression.
Only… my heart hiccups.
Is Earth really so different? Aren’t women assaulted all the time? At least here there's clear indicators like scent and designation to warn you about who’s dangerous.
Am I losing my mind?
Fuck.
I squeeze tighter against Max, letting the steady thump of his pulse beneath my fingers calm my racing thoughts.
I like Max. Max is safe. Max wants to protect me from jerkoffs and is willing to be a tour guide through Halvassa. Max might be an ally in the quest for a portal home.
But I can’t let myself like Max too much. I can’t let feelings get involved, because I am leaving .
We turn into the Pack Murphy brownstone and I am already missing the quiet connection we had on the bike. I peel myself off his back, immediately aware of his absence.
I quickly unstrap my helmet so he doesn't have to, and hand it to him. His fingers brush mine as he takes it, setting it on a shelf by the bike.
“I’m sorry that this afternoon went so sideways,” Max says. “I wanted to show you a bit of Halvassa and let you have some breathing room. Gods, I always cock things up.”
The self loathing in his words hit me like physical blows. They aren’t meant for me, but they hurt anyway.
“Don’t say that.” I say fiercely. “You did show me Halvassa. And gave me a very good lesson on Alpha biology.”
His dark brown eyes are a little sad, but the twist of his mouth is cruel.
“Just don’t run back to the Conservatory yet. Okay? There’s so much more our Pack wants to show you. To give you. We just need… I mean, don’t blame Lor and Cal for how this afternoon went.”
My heart cracks. Fuck these Omega feelings. But they flood me, feelings of wanting to fix and comfort him. Feelings of care and need.
God the need . To fuck him. To cuddle with him. To kiss away all the things that hurt– all those invisible scars that are causing him pain right now.
“I’m not leaving, not yet.” I say, carefully. Because I am leaving– as soon as I find a way home.
But, that’s going to take time. Right?
And maybe right now, while I’m searching for that way home, I can offer a little comfort. Relieve a little tension.
This is such a bad idea.
I run my fingers along his jaw, feeling the prickle of his stubble. My thighs quiver.
“Katie,” his voice deepens, his pupils dilating. “I am warning you now that my restraint is fraying. You can go ahead of me upstairs, and I can take a minute to….”
I cup my hands around his face. There’s a scar on his upper lip. His lashes are thick, his lips full.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I lean in, pressing my lips against his.
I part, letting him sweep his tongue past my lips until he tastes me.
With a growl, Max picks me up, and I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist. His erection presses against my belly, a groan on his lips.
“Katie,” he whispers. “I’m just going to kiss you today.”
He says it like he’s reminding himself more than telling me.
I open my lips further, and his tongue glides in.
He walks me back until I’m perched on his bike. He leans over me, not breaking the kiss. I let my legs fall loose, a dangerous mix of heat and friction lighting a fire in my core that travels over my skin.
“I’m not fucking you in the garage,” I say into his mouth.
Max just growls.